KAMPALA – The Ministry of foreign affairs has recalled diplomats at the Ugandan Embassy in Denmark after an audio leaked as staff were heard discussing how to share government money that was not spent in 2019/2020 financial year.
The Ministry’s permanent secretary Patrick Mugoya said the decision to recall the diplomats will pave way for investigations to the allegations.
“The Ministry in consultation with the Permanent Secretary of the Finance Ministry and the auditor general will carry out a thorough investigation into this matter,” he said.
He added that the outcome of the investigation will determine the additional measures to be taken.
“The Ministry wishes to reiterate to the general public that it doesn’t not condone corruption and that the use of public funds will adhere to the principles of transperancy and efficiency and an deviation by any officer will be met with appropriate sanctions as provided for in the Public Finance and Management Act,and Regulations,” he said.
Diplomatic staff at the Uganda embassy in Denmark convened a Zoom meeting and discussed how to share government money they were not able to spend during the 2019/20 financial year that ended in June.
An audio clip of proceedings of the meeting shows how the diplomats at the embassy in Copenhagen sat with their junior staff and agreed to share the money.
At the end of each financial year, government institutions are required by law to return all unused balances to the Treasury in Kampala.
Section 17 (2) of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), 2005 stipulates: “A vote that does not expend money appropriated to it for the financial year shall at the close of the financial year, repay the money to the Consolidated Fund.”